NFL Competition?

In the United States we have seen several sports leagues come and go trying to compete with the big four. It is extremely difficult for something new and different to come into play to beat something that has been popular for 75+years. In the world of baseball we have seen Independent Leagues fail over and over again, eventually to find their own niche in local towns. The same cannot be said for the other sports leagues. The NHL has never had real competition, the NBA had the ABA which was a money pit until they were finally bought out. But, one league that has always had competition has been the NFL.

The NFL's original competition was the AFL which as we all know was eventually merged with the NFL This would bring about increased popularity in the world of football, which at the time was competing with College Football. This would bring about the extreme popularity of Pro Football in the USA. However, after this merge and the explosion of popularity we would see more leagues form and more competition come about, especially in recent years. 

The most famous competition for the NFL was known as the USFL, a league that brought many superstars to the NFL. What made the USFL successful was that it was played not during the same time as the NFL, it was after the season was complete and it offered strong competition. It was a step above college football but, still below NFL standards. However, this would all change when spectacular players like Doug Flutie, Steve Young, Jim Kelly, Herschel Walker and many more. The USFL got these stars through the process of paying much higher rates causing players to want to come play in the league. These superstar players took the USFL to the next level and allowed for even more growth. However, the death of this league would come when they tried to breakout of their niche and compete directly with the NFL. This was their major mistake, the league was not ready yet, and they did not have strong popularity to compete with the NFL and College Football. This caused the death of the USFL.

We have seen several leagues come and go over the years, some finding niches like the Arena Football League, others failing like the XFL for over promising. We are now seeing a brand new league form of The Alliance of American Football, and the reformation of the XFL. Both leagues are promising to be competitive, popular, and unique. The Alliance of American Football is the league that we will see first. Founders Charlie Ebersol and Bill Polian have plans to start their league after the Super Bowl ends. The league will be only 10 weeks with their championship occurring on April 28. 

The Alliance of American Football may survive, though it does not have the hotshot players like the USFL, it does have some above average guys like Trent Richardson, Trevor Knight and others. It will be interesting to see if the AAF decides to go after some big name players, overpaying them to bring in the media attention it wants. This league can survive. If Arena Football has made it this can as well. I foresee this league making it and eventually  merging with the XFL to combine for a larger spring time league. The potential is there and we are in for a very interesting future for football. 

Wentz, Our Lord and Savior?

He has risen, Wentz has risen indeed? Carson Wentz made his first start in 288 days against the Indianapolis Colts. The best takeaway from the Colts matchup is that Wentz was ready to play and appears to be fully recovered from his torn ACL injury. Some fans were concerned that the wet field and rain could cause him to re-injure to his knee. It was nice seeing Wentz being sacked five times, so we know he can take contact without crumbling to the ground.  It was marvelous watching him roll out of the pocket and dive (baseball slide) for a first down. It was inspiring watching him scrambling to evade a sack and hitting the new dynamic tightend duo (GoedErtz). 

Wentz was not the near perfect passer that he seemed to be before getting injured. There was rust that was being shaken off. Wentz needs to focus on ball security with being the reason for two turnovers. The Eagles could have easily lost the past game against after late interception from a bad throw by Wentz. It was the Eagles defensive line that saved them. Wentz needs to improve in the redzone. 

There was a clear desperate need that the Eagles need offensive weapons. With time the Eagles will have a dominating offense, patience is a virtue. Between developing young players and waiting for players to come back from injury, the Eagles will still be rusty next week against the Titans. 

The offense’s best trait is that they are able to spread the ball around. Almost every game at least 7 different players have made completions. A threat that the Eagles need to develop is their first draft pick in the past draft, Dallas Goedert. The new Philadelphia tightend was able to have a breakout game with having 7 receptions for 73 yards and his first touchdown on Wentz’s first drive back. Both Goedert and Ertz had more than 70 yards. 

Alshon Jeffrey, Darren Sproles, and Jay Ajayi should be back healthy next week. Wentz came back without having any major setbacks, so you can expect the injured veterans to not have any issues as well. 

While some teams lost to the Bills and Browns, the Eagles won an ugly and stressful game, but they won and that’s all that matters.

The turnaround

The Sixers preseason starts 10/1 this is the start of something very exciting. The Sixers shocked the world last year, going from a team of ragtag losers to a team that meshed together perfectly. This team for years has been in the rebuilding stages, and now they finally have it. They have the players, they have the skills, they have the coaching they have the pieces. This team can actually do it, they can shock the world, they will not only be competitive, but they could be champions. 

This team has so much potential, the most seen in a long-time with a Sixers squad. If you just look at their roster you can see the strengths. Players like Simmons, Embiid, and Saric coming into their own last season, finally showing what we all had been waiting for. This paired with surprises like McConnell and Redick, the team looks like it is in a good position to be very competitive once again. The Sixers have also brought in several great additions during the offseason veteran Wilson Chandler and rookie Zhaire Smith. This team has the potential to make an unbelievable run this season, and I would not be surprised if a big addition comes during the season if the Sixers prove their competitiveness. This addition could be on the scale of a player like a Kemba or Tyreke. Though it may sound crazy, these players could be huge additions to the Sixers lineup. 

The key this season will be Fultz, I would like to see him standout and step up. The guy has the potential to be a star, however the Sixers went too easy on him and he did not trust himself enough. Fultz needs to show that he belongs in a starter position. He needs to show that he can add value to the team, and propel them into super stardom. 

The Sixers will be very competitive this year, and I wholeheartedly believe that they will be a semi-final contender, and even possible an NBA Champion. If all the pieces fall into place, it can take them to the next level. They can position themselves as a team of young superstars that have the stamina, skills, and abilities to take them all the way. The Sixers may be the most exciting team in Philadelphia this year!